"precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" For what?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Why do we study precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little?

  • To show ourselves approved

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • To wander to and fro, here a little, there a little

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • To sow and never reap, to build and never live in what we've built.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    1

shnarkle

Well-Known Member
Nov 10, 2013
1,689
569
113
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
That passage is often quoted to support our diligent study of God's word, and yet Isaiah points out that anyone with less than a pure heart will be broken and snared by it. Seems ironic that most people never notice that little bit of critical information Why is that?

It reminds me of a song by that legendary rock band of the 60's and on, Pink Floyd, where they insert a little known and rarely remembered line into one of their most popular songs. The line is this: "I can't remember this part of the song". It's from their Dark Side of the Moon album, and once it is pointed out to people, they are usually surprised.

3 The crown of pride...shall be trodden under feet: 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment,the priest and the prophet...they stumble in judgment.9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Given this sad state of affairs that is unchanged even today, what can we expect from diligently searching the scriptures?

13 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

And why is this the case? It would seem that we have made a deal with the devil. Our hearts are not in the right place. We are doing this for all the wrong reasons. We are rushing to and fro because, just like Satan himself, we know we have no time to spare.

14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

The believer can relax. This isn't a works based salvation, therefore we must have slack. We have an easy yoke and a light burden.

Here's where it gets tricky:

17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

So they will not die? They will not descend into Sheol/Hell?

They have a deal with the devil that God disannuls, yet there is still an overflowing scourge that treads down on them. Do we say, "Don't tread on me", or is this how we're saved?

I would say, "You be the judge", but that's clearly not the correct path according to Isaiah. Therefore the clear path to glory is most definitely found in endless, lazy, unproductive leisure.

Disclaimer: Given these facts, I am not responsible for any or all scriptural citations which may result in whoever responds to this post being broken or snared by God's word.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Episkopos

charity

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2017
3,234
3,192
113
75
UK
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Hello @shnarkle,

Forgive me, but I don't understand: would you please explain the point you are endeavouring to make?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris
 

Episkopos

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2011
12,800
19,242
113
65
Montreal
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
That passage is often quoted to support our diligent study of God's word, and yet Isaiah points out that anyone with less than a pure heart will be broken and snared by it. Seems ironic that most people never notice that little bit of critical information Why is that?

It reminds me of a song by that legendary rock band of the 60's and on, Pink Floyd, where they insert a little known and rarely remembered line into one of their most popular songs. The line is this: "I can't remember this part of the song". It's from their Dark Side of the Moon album, and once it is pointed out to people, they are usually surprised.



Given this sad state of affairs that is unchanged even today, what can we expect from diligently searching the scriptures?



And why is this the case? It would seem that we have made a deal with the devil. Our hearts are not in the right place. We are doing this for all the wrong reasons. We are rushing to and fro because, just like Satan himself, we know we have no time to spare.



The believer can relax. This isn't a works based salvation, therefore we must have slack. We have an easy yoke and a light burden.

Here's where it gets tricky:



So they will not die? They will not descend into Sheol/Hell?

They have a deal with the devil that God disannuls, yet there is still an overflowing scourge that treads down on them. Do we say, "Don't tread on me", or is this how we're saved?

I would say, "You be the judge", but that's clearly not the correct path according to Isaiah. Therefore the clear path to glory is most definitely found in endless, lazy, unproductive leisure.

Disclaimer: Given these facts, I am not responsible for any or all scriptural citations which may result in whoever responds to this post being broken or snared by God's word.

God's word is a snare for the religious carnal mind. But these can't discern that....that's what is so amazing about it. His word cuts through what is of God and what isn't...without people realizing that by trying to interpret the bible for themselves...THEY are themselves being interpreted.

God can give a warning about something, get it exactly wrong, and people take it to mean an approval and step right into the hole.

I'm reminded of when Jesus turned to Judas and said...do quickly what you are to do. Was this a seeming approval of what Judas was supposed to do? Judas probably took it that way. His lack of fear of the Lord put him in the worst possible place.

But your point of here a little and there a little adds up to...always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.
 

shnarkle

Well-Known Member
Nov 10, 2013
1,689
569
113
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
God's word is a snare for the religious carnal mind. But these can't discern that....that's what is so amazing about it. His word cuts through what is of God and what isn't...without people realizing that by trying to interpret the bible for themselves...THEY are themselves being interpreted.

Excellent point! They are the one's being sifted.

God can give a warning about something, get it exactly wrong, and people take it to mean an approval and step right into the hole.

I'm reminded of when Jesus turned to Judas and said...do quickly what you are to do. Was this a seeming approval of what Judas was supposed to do? Judas probably took it that way. His lack of fear of the Lord put him in the worst possible place.

Yes. I also see a lot of descriptions being interpreted as prescriptions while prescriptions are interpreted as descriptions.

But your point of here a little and there a little adds up to...always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.

Therefore the kingdom must be sought first, and foremost with no regard for anything being added. It seems like most people look at what is going to be added as the goal or the prize instead of the kingdom itself. There is no profit in knowing everything when one has lost their soul.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Episkopos

shnarkle

Well-Known Member
Nov 10, 2013
1,689
569
113
Faith
Other Faith
Country
United States
Hello @shnarkle,

Forgive me, but I don't understand: would you please explain the point you are endeavouring to make?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

The truth is always and everywhere self evident. We can prove it. We have the truth of God's word, and can put it into action. God's salvation is in manifesting God's commandments, but if we fail to rightly divide the word, we are lost, and will be snared by the word. it then becomes deadly.

Here's an example: Let's say that I approach Paul and point out that his followers should marry to establish their righteousness. Paul would immediately deny that claim, and proceed to point out that no one is justified by marriage, or remaining faithful to their spouse. This is a pervasive theme in Paul's letters. There would then be those who would conclude that there is nothing standing in the way of them committing adultery because Paul has just admitted that no one is justified by remaining married to their spouse.

The problem is that this conclusion doesn't follow from what Paul has stated. It's a Non Sequitur. It is the same Non Sequitur that is promulgated with any legal matter, e.g. circumcision, the dietary laws, the Sabbath, etc.

Here's another example: Paul distinguishes between the obligation of the law and the curse or penalty of the law which only becomes relevant if one transgresses the law. If one doesn't transgress the law, then there is no need for the penalty or curse of the law. Yet most Christians conflate the two.
 

101G

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2012
12,259
3,385
113
Mobile, Al.
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
One might want to read verse 9 first, for it will articulate verse 10 then one will get their answer.

PICJAG.